City to cut, furlough workers as tax collections lag

MERIDIAN — Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry says 15 to 19 city workers will lose their jobs and the rest of the employees will be furloughed one day each month.

The Meridian Star reports the city’s expenses have risen as tax collections have declined.

Barry says city revenue fell from $14.1 million two years ago to an estimated $12.6 million in the current fiscal year, which began Oct 1.

Barry says no police officers or firefighters will be laid off, but support staff in both departments will. She says the head of each department decided which positions to eliminate and which to keep.

BEFORE YOU GO…

… we’d like to ask for your support. More people are reading the Mississippi Business Journal than ever before, but advertising revenues for all conventional media are falling fast. Unlike many, we do not use a pay wall, because we want to continue providing Mississippi’s most comprehensive business news each and every day. But that takes time, money and hard work. We do it because it is important to us … and equally important to you, if you value the flow of trustworthy news and information which have always kept America strong and free for more than 200 years.

If those who read our content will help fund it, we can continue to bring you the very best in news and information. Please consider joining us as a valued member, or if you prefer, make a one-time contribution.